Three-dimensional image display device, portable terminal device, display panel and fly eye lens

ABSTRACT

In a three-dimensional image display device for displaying color three-dimensional images, a fly eye lens, a display panel, and a light source are provided in this order from the observer side. A display panel has four pixels arrayed in a (2×2) matrix correlated with one lens element of the fly eye lens. In the event that j is a natural number, a pixel magnifying projection width e in a second direction is set in a range of the following expression according to mean interpupillary distance Y of the observers. 
     
       
         
           
             
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                 Y 
                 
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a color three-dimensional image displaydevice capable of displaying three-dimensional images, a portableterminal device mounting the three-dimensional image display device, anda display panel and fly eye lens to be built in the three-dimensionalimage display device, and more specifically relates to athree-dimensional image display device, portable terminal device,display panel, and fly eye lens, which are capable of stereoscopicviewing even in the event that the three-dimensional image displaydevice is disposed not only in one direction alone but also in anotherdirection orthogonal to this one direction.

Examples of applications to which the present invention is appliedinclude portable terminal devices such as handheld phones, PDAs, gamedevices, digital cameras, and digital video cameras.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, study of a display device capable of displayingthree-dimensional images has been made. The Greek Mathematician Euclid,in 280 BC, observed that “Depth perception is to receive by means ofeach eye the simultaneous impression of each eye two dissimilar imagesof the same object” (for example, see “Three-dimensional Display”(Chihiro Masuda, pub. Sangyo Tosho Publishing Co. Ltd.)). That is tosay, three-dimensional image display devices need to have a function toshow images with parallax independently to each eye of an observer.

As for a method for realizing this function specifically, while variouskinds of methods for displaying three-dimensional images have beenstudied for a long time, these methods can be roughly categorized into amethod using glasses and a method not using glasses. Among these,examples of the method using glasses include the anaglyph method usingcolor difference and the polarization glasses method using polarization.However, since these methods cannot avoid being troublesome for havingto wear glasses, in recent years, methods wherein wearing glasses is notnecessary have been intensively studied. Examples of a method withoutwearing glasses include the lenticular lens method and parallax barriermethod.

First, description will be made regarding the lenticular lens method. Asdescribed in the aforementioned “Three-dimensional Display” (ChihiroMasuda, pub. Sangyo Tosho Publishing Co. Ltd.) for example, thelenticular lens method has been invented by Ives and others around 1910.FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lenticular lens, and FIG. 2is an optical model diagram illustrating a conventionalthree-dimensional image display method using a lenticular lens. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, a lenticular lens 121 has one side with a flatsurface, and the other side on which a plurality of convex portions ofrounded ridges extending in one direction (cylindrical lens 122) areformed such that the longitudinal directions thereof are parallel toeach other.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 2, with a three-dimensional imagedisplay device using the lenticular lens method, a lenticular lens 121,display panel 106, and light source 108 are disposed in that order fromthe observer side, and the pixels of the display panel 106 are disposedon the focus surface of the lenticular lens 121. On the display panel106, pixels 123 for displaying an image for the right eye 141 and pixels124 for displaying an image for the left eye 142 are alternativelyarrayed. At this time, a set made up of the pixels 123 and 124 adjacentto each other corresponds to each cylindrical lens (convex portion) ofthe lenticular lenses 121. Thus, the light emitted from the light source108 passes through each pixel, and is distributed in the directiontoward the left eye and in the direction toward the right eye by meansof the cylindrical lens 122 of the lenticular lens 121. This enables theleft and right eyes to recognize a different image mutually, therebyenabling the observer to recognize a three-dimensional image. Asdescribed above, a method for displaying a left-eye image on the lefteye and a right-eye image on the right eye, and enabling an observer torecognize a three-dimensional image is called as a dual-viewpoint methodfor forming two viewpoints.

Next, description will be made regarding the size of each component of athree-dimensional image display device including a normal lenticularlens and display panel. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an opticalmodel of a dual-viewpoint three-dimensional image display device usingthe normal lenticular lens method, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustratinga stereoscopic vision region of this dual-viewpoint three-dimensionalimage display device. As illustrated in FIG. 3, let us say that thedistance between the apex of the lenticular lens 121 and the pixel ofthe display panel 106 is H, the index of refraction of the lenticularlens 121 is n, the focal distance is f, and the array cycle of lenselements, i.e., the lens pitch, is L. The display pixels of the displaypanel 106 are disposed as one set of each left-eye pixel 124 and eachright-eye pixel 123. Let us say that the pitch of this pixel is P.Accordingly, the array pitch of the display pixels made up of eachleft-eye pixel 124 and each right-eye pixel 123 is 2P. One cylindricallens 122 is disposed corresponding to the display pixels made up of thetwo pixels of each left-eye pixel 124 and each right-eye pixel 123.

Also, let us say that the distance between the lenticular lens 121 andthe observer is an optimal observation distance OD, and the magnifyingprojection width of one pixel in this distance OD, i.e., the widths ofthe projection images of the left-eye pixel 124 and right-eye pixel 123on an imaginary flat surface distanced from a lens by the distance ODand parallel to the lens are each e. Further, let us say that thedistance between the center of the cylindrical lens 122 positioned atthe center of the lenticular lens 121 and the center of the cylindricallens 122 disposed on the end of the lenticular lens 121 in a horizontaldirection 112 is W_(L), and the distance between the center of thedisplay pixels made up of the left-eye pixel 124 and right-eye pixel 123positioned on the center of the display panel 106 and the center of thedisplay pixels positioned on the end of the display panel 106 in thehorizontal direction 112 is W_(P). Further, let us say that the incidentangle and exiting angle of light in the cylindrical lens 122 positionedon the center of the lenticular lens 121 are α and β respectively, andthe incident angle and exiting angle of light in the convex portions 122positioned on the end of the lenticular lens 121 in the horizontaldirection 112 are γ and δ respectively. Further, let us say that thedifference between the distance W_(L) and the distance W_(P) is C, andthe number of pixels included in the distance W_(P) is 2 m.

Since the array pitch L of the cylindrical lens 122 and the array pitchP of the pixels are mutually correlated, coordinating with onedetermines the other, however, normally, a lenticular lens is oftendesigned by coordinating with a display panel, so the array pitch P ofthe pixels is handled as a constant. Also, selecting the material of thelenticular lens 121 determines the index of refraction n. On the otherhand, with regard to the observation distance OD between the lens andthe observer, and the pixel magnifying projection width e in theobservation distance OD, desired values are set. The distance H betweenthe apex of the lens and the pixels and the lens pitch L will bedetermined using the aforementioned values. Due to Snell's law andgeometrical relations, the following Expressions 1 through 6 areestablished. The following Expressions 7 through 9 are also established.n×sin α=sin β  (Expression 1)OD×tan β=e   (Expression 2)H×tan α=P   (Expression 3)n×sin γ=sin δ  (Expression 4)H×tan γ=C   (Expression 5)OD×tan δ=W _(L)   (Expression 6)W _(P) −W _(L) =C   (Expression 7)W _(P)=2×m×P   (Expression 8)W _(L) =m×L   (Expression 9)

From the aforementioned Expressions 1 through 3, the followingExpressions 10 through 12 are established respectively.β=arctan (e/OD)   (Expression 10)α=arcsin (1/n×sin β)   (Expression 11)H=P/tan α  (Expression 12)

Also, the following Expression 13 is established from the aboveExpressions 6 and 9. Moreover, the following Expression 14 isestablished from the aforementioned Expressions 8 and 9. Furthermore,the following Expression 15 is established from the aforementionedExpression 5.δ=arctan (mL/OD)   (Expression 13)C=2×m×P−m×L   (Expression 14)γ=arctan (C/H)   (Expression 15)

Since the distance H between the apex of the lenticular lens and thepixels is usually set so as to be identical to the focal distance f ofthe lenticular lens, the following Expression 16 is established. If wesay that the curvature radius of the lenticular lens is r, the curvatureradius is obtained from the following Expression 17.f=H   (Expression 16)r=H×(n−1)/n   (Expression 17)

As illustrated in FIG. 4, let us say that a region where light reachesfrom all of the right-eye pixels 123 is a right-eye region 171, and aregion where light reaches from all of the left-eye pixels 124 is aleft-eye region 172. The observer can recognize a three-dimensionalimage by positioning the right eye 141 to the right-eye region 171, andthe left eye 142 to the left-eye region 172. However, since theinterpupillary distance of the observer is constant, the right eye 141and left eye 142 cannot be positioned at an arbitrary position of theright-eye region 171 and left-eye region 172 respectively, andaccordingly, the positions are restricted to a region where theinterpupillary distance can be kept to a constant. In other words, onlyin the case wherein the midpoint of the right eye 141 and left eye 142is positioned at a stereoscopic vision region 107, stereoscopic viewingcan be obtained. Since a length along the horizontal direction 112 atthe stereoscopic vision region 107 becomes the longest at the positionwhere a distance from the display panel 106 is identical to the optimalobservation distance OD, tolerance in a case wherein the position of theobserver deviates toward the horizontal direction 112 reaches themaximal value. Accordingly, the position where the distance from thedisplay panel 106 is the optimal observation distance OD is the mostideal observation position.

As described later, while the parallax barrier method is a method forhiding unnecessary light by a barrier, the lenticular lens method is amethod for changing the direction where light advances, and accordingly,employing the lenticular lens does not reduce the brightness of adisplay screen in principle. Accordingly, the lenticular lens method ismost likely to be applied to portable equipment and so forth in whichhigh-luminance display and low consumption power performance areregarded as important factors.

A development example of three-dimensional image display devices usingthe lenticular lens method is described in Nikkei Electronics No. 838,Jan. 6, 2003 pp 26-27. A 7-inch liquid crystal panel making up athree-dimensional image display device includes 800×480 display dots.Three-dimensional image display and flat image display can be switchedby changing the distance between the lenticular lens and the liquidcrystal display panel by 0.6 mm. The number of lateral viewpoints isfive, and accordingly, five different images can be viewed by changingthe view angle in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, thenumber of vertical viewpoints is one, and accordingly, the image doesnot change even if the view angle is changed in the vertical direction.

Next, description will be made regarding the parallax barrier method.The parallax barrier method has been conceived by Berthier in 1896, anddemonstrated by Ives in 1903. FIG. 5 is an optical model diagramillustrating a conventional three-dimensional image display method usinga parallax barrier. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a parallax barrier 105 isa barrier (shielding plate) on which numerous narrow slits 105 a areformed. The display panel 106 is disposed near one surface of thisparallax barrier 105. On the display panel 106, the right-eye pixels 123and left-eye pixels 124 are arrayed in the direction orthogonal to thelongitudinal direction of the slits. On the other hand, the light source108 is disposed near the other surface of the parallax barrier 105,i.e., on the opposite side of the display panel 106.

The light, which is emitted from the light source 108, and passesthrough the slit 105 a of the parallax barrier 105 and the right-eyepixel 123, is the optical flux 181. In the same way, the light, which isemitted from the light source 108, passes through the slit 105 a and theleft-eye pixel 124, is optical flux 182. At this time, the positionwhere the observer can recognize a three-dimensional image is determinedby means of the positional relation between the parallax barrier 105 andthe pixels. In other words, the right eye 141 of an observer 104 needsto be within the transmissive regions of all of the optical flux 181corresponding to the a plurality of right-eye pixels 123, and also theleft eye 142 of the observer needs to be within the transmissive regionsof all of the optical flux 182. This is the case wherein a midpoint 143of the right eye 141 and left eye 142 of the observer is positionedwithin the stereoscopic vision region 107 of a square illustrated inFIG. 5.

Of the line segments extending in the array direction of the right-eyepixel 123 and left-eye pixel 124 in the stereoscopic vision region 107,the segment passing through a diagonal intersecting point 107 a in thestereoscopic vision region 107 is the longest line segment. Accordingly,when the midpoint 143 is positioned at the intersecting point 107 a,tolerance in a case wherein the position of the observer deviates in thehorizontal direction reaches the maximal value, so this position is themost preferable as an observation position. Accordingly, with thisthree-dimensional image display method, it is recommended for observersto perform observation at the optimal observation distance OD, i.e.,distance between the intersecting point 107 a and the display panel 106.Note that an imaginary flat surface wherein the distance from thedisplay panel 106 in the stereoscopic vision region 107 is the optimalobservation distance OD is called as an optimal observation surface 107b. Thus, the light from the right-eye pixel 123 and left-eye pixel 124reaches the right eye 141 and left eye 142 of the observer respectively.Accordingly, the observer can recognize an image displayed on thedisplay panel 106 as a three-dimensional image.

Next, description will be made regarding a three-dimensional imagedisplay device wherein a parallax barrier on which slits are formed isdisposed on the front surface of a display panel, more specifically,regarding each component size thereof in detail. FIG. 6 is a diagramillustrating an optical model of a conventional dual-viewpointthree-dimensional image display device having a slit-shaped parallaxbarrier on the observer side of a display panel. Note that the slitwidth of the parallax barrier is minute, so it can be ignored for thesake of simplifying explanation. As illustrated in FIG. 6, let us saythat the array pitch of the slits 105 a of the parallax barrier 105 isL, the distance between the display panel 106 and the parallax barrier105 is H, and also the array pitch of the pixels is P. As describedabove, with the display panel 106, since two pixels, i.e., eachright-eye pixel 123 and each left-eye pixel 124 are disposed as a pixelset on the display panel 106, the array pitch of the pixel set is 2P.Since the array pitch L of the slits 105 a and the array pitch P of thepixel set are mutually correlated, coordinating with one determines theother, however, normally, a parallax barrier is often designed bycoordinating with a display panel, so the array pitch P of the pixel setis handled as a constant.

Also, let us say that a region where light reaches from all of theright-eye pixels 123 is the right-eye region 171, and a region wherelight reaches from all of the left-eye pixels 124 is the left-eye region172. The observer can recognize a three-dimensional image by positioningthe right eye 141 to the right-eye region 171, and the left eye 142 tothe left-eye region 172. However, since the interpupillary distance ofthe observer is constant, the right eye 141 and left eye 142 cannot bepositioned to an arbitrary position of the right-eye region 171 andleft-eye region 172 respectively, and accordingly, the positions arerestricted to a region where the interpupillary distance can be keptconstant. In other words, only in the case wherein the midpoint 143 ofthe right eye 141 and left eye 142 is positioned at the stereoscopicvision region 107, stereoscopic viewing can be obtained. Since a lengthalong the horizontal direction 112 at the stereoscopic vision region 107is the longest at the position where a distance from the display panel106 is identical to the optimal observation distance OD, tolerance in acase wherein the position of the observer deviates toward the horizontaldirection 112 reaches the maximal value. Accordingly, the position wherethe distance from the display panel 106 is the optimal observationdistance OD is the most ideal observation position. Also, let us saythat an imaginary flat surface wherein the distance from the displaypanel 106 in the stereoscopic vision region 107 is the optimalobservation distance OD is the optimal observation surface 107 b, andthe magnifying projection width of one pixel in the optimal observationsurface 107 b is e.

Next, the distance H between the parallax barrier 105 and the displaypixels of the display panel 106 will be determined using theaforementioned values. Due to geometrical relations as illustrated inFIG. 6, the following Expressions 18 is established, and thus, thedistance H is obtained as illustrated in the following Expression 19.P:H=e:(OD−H)   (Expression 18)H=OD×P/(P+e)   (Expression 19)

Further, if we say that the distance between the center of the pixel setpositioned at the center of the display panel 106 in the horizontaldirection 112 and the center of the pixel set positioned on the end inthe horizontal direction 112 is W_(P), and the distance between thecenters of the slits 105 a corresponding to these pixel setsrespectively is W_(L), the difference C between the distance W_(P) anddistance W_(L) is obtained by the following Expression 20. Also, if wesay that the number of pixels included in the distance W_(P) on thedisplay panel 106 is 2 m, the following Expression 21 is established.Further, since the following Expression 22 is established due togeometrical relations, the pitch L of the slits 105 a of the parallaxbarrier 105 is obtained by the following Expression 23.W _(P) −W _(L) =C   (Expression 20)W _(P)=2×m×Pm, W _(L) =m×L   (Expression 21)W _(P) :OD=W _(L):(OD−H)   (Expression 22)L=2×P×(OD−H)/OD   (Expression 23)

Next, description will be made regarding a three-dimensional imagedisplay device wherein a parallax barrier is disposed on the rearsurface of the display panel, more specifically, regarding eachcomponent size thereof in detail. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating anoptical model of a conventional dual-viewpoint three-dimensional imagedisplay device having a slit-shaped parallax barrier on the rear surfaceof a display panel. Note that the slit width of the parallax barrier isminute, so this can be ignored for the sake of simplifying explanation.As with the aforementioned case wherein the parallax barrier is disposedon the front surface of the display panel, let us say that the arraypitch of the slits 105 a of the parallax barrier 105 is L, the distancebetween the display panel 106 and the parallax barrier 105 is H, andalso the array pitch of the display pixels is P. As described above,with the display panel 106, since two pixels, i.e., each right-eye pixel123 and each left-eye pixel 124 are disposed as a pixel set on thedisplay panel 106, the array pitch of the pixel set is 2P. Since thearray pitch L of the slits 105 a and the array pitch P of the pixel setare mutually correlated, coordinating with one determines the other,however, normally, a parallax barrier is often designed by coordinatingwith a display panel, so the array pitch P of the pixel set is handledas a constant.

Also, let us say that a region where light reaches from all of theright-eye pixels 123 is the right-eye region 171, and a region wherelight reaches from all of the left-eye pixels 124 is the left-eye region172. The observer can recognize a three-dimensional image by positioningthe right eye 141 to the right-eye region 171, and the left eye 142 tothe left-eye region 172. However, since the interpupillary distance ofthe observer is constant, the right eye 141 and left eye 142 cannot bepositioned to an arbitrary position of the right-eye region 171 andleft-eye region 172 respectively, and accordingly, the positions arerestricted to a region where the interpupillary distance can be keptconstant. In other words, only in the case wherein the midpoint 143 ofthe right eye 141 and left eye 142 is positioned at the stereoscopicvision region 107, stereoscopic viewing can be obtained. Since thelength along the horizontal direction 112 at the stereoscopic visionregion 107 is the longest at the position where a distance from thedisplay panel 106 is identical to the optimal observation distance OD,tolerance in a case wherein the position of the observer deviates towardthe horizontal direction 112 reaches the maximal value. Accordingly, theposition where the distance from the display panel 106 is the optimalobservation distance OD is the most ideal observation position. Also,let us say that an imaginary flat surface wherein the distance from thedisplay panel 106 in the stereoscopic vision region 107 is the optimalobservation distance OD is the optimal observation surface 107 b, andthe magnifying projection width of one pixel in the optimal observationsurface 107 b is e.

Next, the distance H between the parallax barrier 105 and the pixels ofthe display panel 106 will be determined using the aforementionedvalues. Due to geometrical relations as illustrated in FIG. 7, thefollowing Expressions 24 is established, and thus, the distance H isobtained as illustrated in the following Expression 25.P:H=e:(OD+H)   (Expression 24)H=OD×P/(e−P)   (Expression 25)

Further, if we say that the distance between the center of the pixel setpositioned at the center of the display panel 106 in the horizontaldirection 112 and the center of the pixel set positioned on the end inthe horizontal direction 112 is W_(P), and the distance between thecenters of the slits 105 a corresponding to these pixel setsrespectively is W_(L), the difference C between the distance W_(P) anddistance W_(L) is obtained by the following Expression 26. Also, if wesay that the number of pixels included in the distance W_(P) on thedisplay panel 106 is 2 m, the following Expression 27 and Expression 28are established. Further, since the following Expression 29 isestablished due to geometrical relations, the pitch L of the slits 105 aof the parallax barrier 105 is obtained by the following Expression 30.W _(L) −W _(P) =C   (Expression 26)W _(P)=2×m×P   (Expression 27)W _(L) =m×L   (Expression 28)W _(P) :OD=W _(L):(OD+H)   (Expression 29)L=2×P×(OD+H)/OD   (Expression 30)

Since the parallax barrier method originally had the parallax barrierdisposed between the pixel and the eye, this has led to a problemwherein the parallax barrier is conspicuous and visibility is poor.However, with realization of liquid crystal display panels, anarrangement has been made wherein the parallax barrier 105 can bedisposed on the rear side of the display panel 106 as illustrated inFIG. 5, thereby improving visibility. Thus, three-dimensional imagedisplay devices using the parallax barrier method are now being studiedintensively.

An example of actual production using the parallax barrier method inreality is described within Table 1 of the aforementioned NikkeiElectronics No. 838, Jan. 6, 2003 pp 26-27. This is a portable phonemounting a liquid crystal panel corresponding to 3D, wherein the liquidcrystal panel making up a three-dimensional image display deviceincludes 176×220 display dots in diagonal 2.2-inch size. In addition, aliquid crystal panel serving as a switch for turning on/off the effectsof a parallax barrier is provided, whereby three-dimensional imagedisplay and flat image display can be switched and displayed. Asdescribed above, two images of a left-eye image and right-eye image aredisplayed at the time of displaying a three-dimensional image. In otherwords, this is a dual-viewpoint three-dimensional image display device.

On the other hand, attempts for improving stereoscopic sensation havebeen performed using images more than two images. For example, asdescribed above, a pair of a left-eye image and right-eye image isdisplayed not only in the horizontal direction but also in the verticaldirection. The shape of the slits of a parallax barrier is a pinholeshape. Thus, in the event that the position of the observer moves in thevertical direction, different three-dimensional images can berecognized. A pair of the images disposed in the vertical direction areimages wherein a substance to be displayed is observed in the verticaldirection. Thus, the observer can obtain stereoscopic sensation in thevertical direction by changing his/her position in the verticaldirection, resulting in improving stereoscopic sensation.

A development example of three-dimensional image display devices fordisplaying an image two-dimensionally in the vertical direction isdescribed in “3D Display” (Optical and electro-optical engineeringcontact, Vol. 41, No. 3, Mar. 20, 2003 pp.21-32. This is amulti-viewpoint three-dimensional image display device using 7viewpoints in the horizontal direction, 4 viewpoints in the verticaldirection, for 28 viewpoints in total, and a liquid crystal displaydevice making up the three-dimensional image display device includesQUXGA-W (3840×2400) display dots in a diagonal 22-inch size. Thus, theobserver can observe three-dimensional images changing consecutively inthe event of changing the observation position not only in thehorizontal direction but also in the vertical direction.

However, with the aforementioned conventional three-dimensional imagedisplay device, it is assumed that the direction for disposing a displayscreen is to be set in one direction as to the observer at all times.Accordingly, in the event of changing the direction of the displaymonitor as to the observer, it is impossible for the observer torecognize a three-dimensional image. For example, upon theaforementioned display device being rotated by 90° in either directionfrom the normal direction, the observer observes the same image withboth eyes, so cannot recognize a three-dimensional image.

To solve this problem, a technique is disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 06-214323 wherein two lenticularlenses are overlapped such that the longitudinal directions of thelenses are orthogonal to each other, and the focal point of each lens isdisposed on the same flat surface, and the light from a plurality ofpixels arrayed in matrix fashion is distributed into in the verticaldirection and in the horizontal direction of a screen. Thus, JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 06-214323 states that evenin the event that the direction of the display screen as to the observerrotates by 90° such as in a case wherein the observer lies down forexample, the observer can recognize a three-dimensional image.

However, the aforementioned conventional technique includes thefollowing problems. As a result of the present inventor and othersstudying this technique, with the display device disclosed in JapanesePatent Publication No. Hei 06-214323, in the event of displaying a colorimage and changing the direction for disposing the display device as tothe observer, it was obvious that three-dimensional display cannot becorrectly made in some cases. Description will be made below regardingthis phenomenon in detail.

First, description will be made regarding a case wherein a lens isemployed. In order to observe a three-dimensional image even if thedisplay device is disposed in either the vertical or horizontaldirection, with Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.06-214323, while two lenticular lenses disposed such that thelongitudinal directions of the lenses are orthogonal to each other areemployed, a fly eye lens of which lens elements are two-dimensionallyarrayed may be employed. FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a flyeye lens 125.

As for a display device to be used in a three-dimensional image displaydevice, a display device employing a striped color, which is currentlymost common, is used. For the sake of explanation, a first direction anda second direction are defined as follows. That is to say, the firstdirection is a direction where the same color pixels of each color pixelare consecutively disposed, and the second direction is a directionwhere each color pixel is alternatively repeatedly disposed. The firstdirection and the second direction are orthogonal to each other on adisplay surface. One display unit includes three colors of RGB, and eachcolor pixel is arrayed in a striped shape. Also, the resolution in thefirst direction and the resolution in the second direction are equallymutually set, and accordingly, each color pixel pitch in the seconddirection is one third of the pitch in the first direction.

In order to observe a three-dimensional image by disposing left andright pixels not only in the first direction but also in the seconddirection, a method for disposing one lens element as to two same colorpixels arrayed in the second direction and adjacent to each other can beconceived. In this case, since the pixel pitch in the second directionis one third of the pixel pitch in the first direction, theaforementioned Expression 3 is substituted with the following Expression31.H×tan α′=P/3   (Expression 31)

At this time, the distance H between the lens and the pixel should bethe same value as the distance H between the lens and the pixel in theaforementioned first direction for the sake of using one fly eye lens.In the same way, the index of refraction n should be the same. Also, theobservation distance OD is preferably unchanged. Thus, Expression 1 issubstituted with the following Expression 32. Also, Expression 2 issubstituted with the following Expression 33.n×sin α′=sin β′  (Expression 32)OD×tan β′=e′  (Expression 33)

Note that the angles α, β, α′, and β′ are generally small, and are in arange wherein paraxial approximation is established, and accordingly, e′is generally the same as (e/3), and a pixel magnifying projection widthis (e/3). For example, in the event that the pixel magnifying projectionwidth e in the aforementioned first direction is 97.5 mm, the pixelmagnifying projection width e/3 in the second direction is 32.5 mm. Inother words, left and right images are magnified and projected in 32.5mm pitch. Consequently, a general observer of which the interpupillarydistance is 65 mm can observe only any one of the images, andaccordingly, regardless of the display device displaying athree-dimensional image, the observer cannot recognize thethree-dimensional image.

Such a problem occurs not only in the lens method but also in thethree-dimensional image display device using the parallax barriermethod. Description will be made below regarding a phenomenon occurringwhen the angle of a three-dimensional image display device using theparallax barrier method as to the observer is rotated by 90° from thenormal observation position.

The conventional three-dimensional image display device illustrated inFIG. 5 is a three-dimensional image display device using a parallaxbarrier on which slits are formed. When this device is rotated by 90°from the normal position, the observer observes the same image with botheyes, and accordingly, cannot recognize a three-dimensional image. Inorder to observe a three-dimensional image even if the display device isdisposed either vertically or horizontally, there is the need to employa parallax barrier on which pinhole slits are two-dimensionally arrayed.Note that with the present device, as with the aforementioned deviceusing a fly eye lens, the array of each color is defined in a stripedshape, and the first and second directions are defined as the same asthe aforementioned definition. Consequently, the pitch of color pixelsin the second direction is one third of the pitch in the firstdirection.

In order to observe a three-dimensional image by disposing left andright images not only in the first direction but also in the seconddirection, a method for disposing one pinhole as to two color pixelsarrayed in the second direction and adjacent to each other can beconceived. In this case, a pixel pitch is one third of the firstdirection, and accordingly, the aforementioned Expression 19 issubstituted with the following Expression 34.e′=((OD−H)/H)=P/3   (Expression 34)

At this time, the distance H between the barrier and the pixel should bethe same value as the distance H between the barrier and the pixel inthe aforementioned first direction for the sake of using one parallaxbarrier. Also, the observation distance OD is preferably unchanged.Thus, the following Expression 35 is established.e′=e/3   (Expression 35)

This means that the pixel magnifying projection width is (e/3). As aresult, in the same way as with a fly eye lens, a phenomenon occurswherein regardless of the display device displaying a three-dimensionalimage, the observer cannot recognize the three-dimensional image.

Further, with a three-dimensional image display device equipped with aparallax barrier on the rear surface of the display panel, the samephenomenon occurs. In this case as well, the pixel pitch in the seconddirection is one-third in the first direction, and the aforementionedExpression 25 is substituted with the following Expression 36.e=((OD+H)/H)×P/3   (Expression 36)

At this time, the distance H between the barrier and the display pixelshould be the same value as the distance H between the barrier and thepixel in the aforementioned first direction for the sake of using oneparallax barrier. Also, the observation distance OD is preferablyunchanged. Thus, the following Expression 37 is established.e′=e/3   (Expression 37)

This means that the pixel magnifying projection width is (e/3), in thesame way as with a fly eye lens, and a phenomenon occurs wherein,regardless of the display device displaying a three-dimensional image,the observer cannot recognize the three-dimensional image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensionalimage display device which allows an observer to recognize a colorthree-dimensional image with excellent visibility even in the event ofrotating the three-dimensional image display device by 90° from thenormal observation direction, a portable terminal device mounting thethree-dimensional image display device, and a display panel and fly eyelens to be built in the three-dimensional image display device.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a first aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a display panel on which a plurality ofdisplay units including pixels for displaying a right-eye image andpixels for displaying a left-eye image are arrayed in a first direction,and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, in matrixfashion; and an optical unit for distributing light emitted from thepixels arrayed in the first direction into mutually different directionsalong the first direction, and also distributing light emitted from thepixels arrayed in the second direction into mutually differentdirections along the second direction.

The pixels for displaying a right-eye image and the pixels fordisplaying a left-eye image are colored in Z (Z represents a naturalnumber) number of colors, and the pixels having the same color arearrayed consecutively along the first direction. And, when Y representsmean interpupillary distance, e represents the magnifying projectionwidth of one pixel in the first direction, and j is a natural number,the following expression 38 holds.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{Z} \neq \frac{Y}{2 \times j}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 38} \right)\end{matrix}$

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the displaypanel displays a right-eye image and a left-eye image, and the opticalunit distributes the light emitted from the display panel into a firstdirection and a second direction. Subsequently, magnifying projectionwidth e of one pixel is correlated with the mean interpupillary distanceY of an observer, and selected such as shown in the aforementionedExpression 38. Thus, in both cases wherein the direction where a lineconnecting both eyes of the observer extends (hereinafter, referred toas “direction of both eyes”) is assumed to be the first direction or thesecond direction, the observer can position the right eye to theprojection area of the right-eye image, and the left eye to theprojection area of the left-eye image, thereby recognizing athree-dimensional image.

Also, when k is assumed to be a natural number, the mean interpupillarydistance Y and the magnifying projection width e preferably satisfy thefollowing Expression 39, and more preferably the following Expression40.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{1}{2}} < \frac{e}{Z} < \frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{1}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 39} \right) \\{\frac{e}{Z} = \frac{Y}{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 40} \right)\end{matrix}$

Thus, when the observer randomly positions both eyes to a observationsurface, the probability for the observer to recognize athree-dimensional image rises, whereby the observer can search aposition of both eyes so as to obtain stereoscopic viewing immediately.

Also, when k is assumed to be a natural number, the mean interpupillarydistance Y and the magnifying projection width e may satisfy thefollowing Expression 41 or Expression 42.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{Z} = \frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{Z}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 41} \right)\end{matrix}$

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{Z} = \frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{Z}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 42} \right)\end{matrix}$

Thus, even in either the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thefirst direction or the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thesecond direction, the probability for the observer to recognize athree-dimensional image becomes the same.

Further, it is preferable to satisfy Y/6<e/3. Thus, during meaninterpupillary distance, the number of times for switching left-eye andright-eye images is reduced, and a stereoscopic vision region isprevented from segmentation, whereby the observer can easily obtainstereoscopic viewing.

Further more, the number of colors Z may be three. Thus, the displaypixels can be made up of pixels with three primary colors of RGB.

Further more, The mean interpupillary distance may be in the range of62-65 mm.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a second aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a display panel on which a plurality ofdisplay units including pixels for displaying a right-eye image andpixels for displaying a left-eye image are arrayed in a first direction,and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, in matrixfashion; and a fly eye lens of which a plurality of lens elements arearrayed in the first and second direction, in matrix fashion, fordistributing light emitted from the pixels arrayed in the firstdirection into mutually different directions along the first direction,and also distributing light emitted from the pixels arrayed in thesecond direction into mutually different directions along the seconddirection.

And, the pixels for displaying a right-eye image and the pixels fordisplaying a left-eye image are colored in Z (Z represents a naturalnumber) number of colors, the pixels having the same color are arrayedconsecutively along the first direction, the array pitch of the lenselements in the first direction and the array pitch of the lens elementsin the second direction are different each other.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possiblefor the observer to position the right eye and the left eye to theprojection area of the right-eye image and the projection area of theleft-eye image, respectively, regardless of which direction both eyes ofthe observer are in, the first direction or the second direction.Consequently, color three-dimensional images can be observed favorably.

Moreover, the array pitch of the lens elements in the first directionmay be Z times the array pitch of the lens elements in the seconddirection. Furthermore, the number of colors Z of the pixels on thedisplay panel may be three.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a third aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a display panel on which a plurality ofpixels colored in a plurality of colors are arrayed in a first directionand a second direction orthogonal to the first direction in matrixfashion; and an optical unit for distributing light emitted from thepixels arrayed in the first direction into mutually different directionsalong the first direction, and also distributing light emitted from thepixels arrayed in the second direction into mutually differentdirections along the second direction. The array pitch of the pixels inthe first direction and the array pitch of the pixels in the seconddirection are equal to each other, the display panel is made up of aplurality of pixel matrixes wherein a plurality of pixels having thesame color are mutually arrayed in matrix fashion, on which the pixelmatrixes having mutually different colors are repeatedly arrayed in thefirst direction and in the second direction, and the optical unit ismade up of a plurality of optical elements corresponding to the pixelmatrixes.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the arraypitch of the pixels in the first direction and that in the seconddirection are equal to each other, the magnifying projection width ofthe pixels in the first direction and that in the second direction canbe equal to each other. Consequently, even in either the case whereinthe direction of both eyes is the first direction or the case whereinthe direction of both eyes is the second direction, visibility ofthree-dimensional images can be improved.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a fourth aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a display panel on which a plurality ofdisplay units including pixels for displaying a right-eye image andpixels for displaying a left-eye image are arrayed in a first direction,and in a second direction orthogonal to this first direction, in matrixfashion; a first lenticular lens on which a plurality of cylindricallenses of which the longitudinal direction extends in the firstdirection are arrayed in the second direction; and a second lenticularlens disposed on a position sandwiching the first lenticular lensagainst the display panel, on which a plurality of cylindrical lenses ofwhich the longitudinal direction extends in the second direction arearrayed in wider array pitch than the array pitch of the cylindricallens in the first lenticular lens in the first direction. The pixels fordisplaying a right-eye image and the pixels for displaying a left-eyeimage are colored in Z (Z represents a natural number) number of colors,the pixels having the same color are arrayed consecutively along thefirst direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the arraypitch of the cylindrical lenses in the first lenticular lens is narrowerthan that in the second lenticular lens, when the focal point of thefirst lenticular lens and the focal point of the second lenticular lensare disposed on the same flat surface, the array pitch of the pixels inthe second direction on the display panel can be reduced narrower thanthe array pitch in the first direction. Accordingly, three coloredpixels can be arrayed in the second direction. At this time, the lenssurface of the first lenticular lens is closer to the display panel thanthat of the second lenticular lens, so the magnifying projection widthof one pixel in the second direction can be increased wider than that inthe first direction. Consequently, even in either the case wherein thedirection of both eyes is the first direction or the case wherein thedirection of both eyes is the second direction, visibility ofthree-dimensional images can be improved.

Also, at this time, the first lenticular lens of which the lens surfaceis preferably disposed so as to face the display panel, so the secondlenticular lens of the opposite surface of the lens surface ispreferably disposed so as to face the first lenticular lens. Thus, thearray pitch of the pixels in the second direction can be easily reducednarrower than the array pitch in the first direction.

A three-dimensional image display device according to a fifth aspect ofthe present invention comprises: a display panel on which a plurality ofdisplay units including pixels for displaying a right-eye image andpixels for displaying a left-eye image are arrayed in a first direction,and in a second direction orthogonal to this first direction, in matrixfashion; a first parallax barrier on which a plurality of slits of whichthe longitudinal direction extends in the first direction are formed;and a second parallax barrier disposed on a position sandwiching thefirst parallax barrier along with the display panel, on which aplurality of slits of which the longitudinal direction extends in thesecond direction are formed. The pixels for displaying a right-eye imageand the pixels for displaying a left-eye image are colored in Z (Zrepresents a natural number) number of colors, the pixels having thesame color are arrayed consecutively along the first direction.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the firstparallax barrier is closer to the display panel than the second parallaxbarrier, so the magnifying projection width of one pixel in the seconddirection can be increased wider than that in the first direction.Consequently, even in either the case wherein the direction of both eyesis the first direction or the case wherein the direction of both eyes isthe second direction, visibility of three-dimensional images can beimproved.

With the aforementioned respective three-dimensional image displaydevices, an arrangement may be made wherein in the event that the firstdirection is disposed so as to coordinate with the direction from theright eye of an observer to the left eye, a pair of pixels on which aright-eye image and left-eye image are respectively displayed arrayed inthe first direction within each display unit, also a plurality of pixelson which mutually different images are displayed arrayed in the seconddirection within each display unit, and in the event that the seconddirection is disposed so as to coordinate with the direction from theright eye of an observer to the left eye, a pair of pixels on which aright-eye image and left-eye image are respectively displayed arrayed inthe second direction within each display unit, and also a plurality ofpixels on which mutually different images are displayed arrayed in thefirst direction within each display unit. Thus, the observer can observedifferent images by simply changing an observation angle as to thethree-dimensional image display device to the vertical direction.

A portable terminal device according to a sixth aspect of the presentinvention comprises: a main body; and a three-dimensional image displaydevice according to any one of first through fifth aspects connected tothe main body.

Also, the three-dimensional image display device is preferably connectedto the main body so as to rotate, further comprises detecting unit fordetecting the displacement direction of the three-dimensional imagedisplay device as to the main body. The three-dimensional image displaydevice preferably switches the array direction of the pixels fordisplaying a right-eye image and the pixels for displaying a left-eyeimage either in the first direction or in the second direction based onthe detection results of the detecting unit. Thus, the observer canswitch the direction for displaying an image without rotating the mainbody. Also, a method for displaying an image may be switched bysynchronizing with the displacement direction of the three-dimensionalimage display device.

With a display panel according to a seventh aspect of the presentinvention on which a plurality of pixels colored in a plurality ofcolors are arrayed in a first direction and a second directionorthogonal to the first direction, the array pitch of the pixels in thefirst direction and the array pitch of the pixels in the seconddirection are equal to each other, and the display panel is made up of aplurality of pixel matrixes on which a plurality of pixels mutuallycolored in the same color are arrayed in matrix fashion, and the pixelmatrixes colored in mutually different colors are repeatedly arrayed inthe first and second directions.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the arraypitches of the pixels in the first and second directions are equal toeach other, so when the light emitted from the pixels by the opticalunit is distributed, the magnifying projection width in the first andsecond directions can be equal to each other. Consequently, even ineither the case wherein the direction of both eyes is the firstdirection or the case wherein the direction of both eyes is the seconddirection, visibility of three-dimensional images can be improved.

With a fly eye lens according to a eighth aspect of the presentinvention on which a plurality of lens elements are disposed in matrixfashion, the array pitch of the lens elements in one direction of thematrix and the array pitch of the lens elements in another directionorthogonal to the one direction are different to each other.

According to the present invention, even in either the case wherein thedirection of both eyes is the first direction or the case wherein thedirection of both eyes is the second direction, the observer canposition the right eye to the projection area of a right-eye image andthe left eye to the projection area of a left-eye image by correlatingthe magnifying projection width e of one pixel with the spacing of botheyes Y of the observer, and setting the width e such as shown inExpression 38, whereby the observer can obtain excellent visibility ofcolor three-dimensional images.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a lenticular lens;

FIG. 2 is an optical model diagram illustrating a conventionalthree-dimensional image display method using a lenticular lens;

FIG. 3 is an optical model diagram of a conventional dual-viewpointthree-dimensional image display device using the lenticular lens method;

FIG. 4 is an optical model diagram illustrating an observation range ofa conventional dual-viewpoint three-dimensional image display deviceusing the lenticular lens method;

FIG. 5 is an optical model diagram illustrating a conventionalthree-dimensional image display method using a parallax barrier;

FIG. 6 is an optical model diagram of a conventional dual-viewpointthree-dimensional image display device equipped with a slit-shapedparallax barrier on the observer side of a display panel;

FIG. 7 is an optical model diagram of a conventional dual-viewpointthree-dimensional image display device equipped with a slit-shapedparallax barrier on the rear surface of a display panel;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a fly eye lens;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating one display pixel in athree-dimensional image display device according to a first embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line A-A′ illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line B-B′ illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a portable terminal deviceaccording to the present embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating operation in a casewherein the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment is disposed such that a first direction is identicalto a direction of both eyes;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating operation in a casewherein the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment is disposed such that a second direction is identicalto a direction of both eyes;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams illustrating displacement of both ends,of displacements wherein when the direction of both eyes is set to beidentical to a first direction 21, the observer can recognize athree-dimensional image by positioning a left-eye 61 to a left-eyemagnifying projection region, and a right-eye 62 to a right-eyemagnifying projection region, wherein FIG. 15A illustrates a case of(Y/3)≦(e/3), i.e., 0≦Y≦e, and FIG. 15B illustrates a case of(Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3), i.e., e≦Y≦(2×e);

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/2), i.e., Y=(2/3)×e;

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/4), i.e., Y=(4/3)×e;

FIGS. 18A through 18F are diagrams illustrating displacement of bothends, of displacements wherein when the direction of both eyes is set tobe identical to a second direction 22, the observer can recognize athree-dimensional image by positioning a left-eye 61 to a left-eyemagnifying projection region, and a right-eye 62 to a right-eyemagnifying projection region, wherein FIG. 18A illustrates a case ofY≦(e/3), i.e., 0≦Y≦(e/3), FIG. 18B illustrates a case of (Y/2)≦(e/3)≦Y,i.e., (e/3)≦Y≦(2/3)×e, FIG. 18C illustrates a case of (Y/3)≦(e/3)≦(Y/2),i.e., (2/3)×e≦Y≦e, FIG. 18D illustrates a case of (Y/4)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3),i.e., e≦Y≦(4/3)×e, FIG. 18E illustrates a case of (Y/5)≦(e/3)≦(Y/4),i.e., (4/3)×e≦Y≦(5/3)×e, and FIG. 18F illustrates a case of(Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/5), i.e., (5/3)×e≦Y≦(2×e);

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/2), i.e., Y=(2/3)×e;

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/4), i.e., Y=(4/3)×e;

FIG. 21 is a graph illustrating Expression 48 though Expression 55wherein the horizontal axis represents the values of (e/3) and Y, andthe vertical axis represents stereoscopic viewing probability PR;

FIGS. 22A and 22B are perspective views illustrating a handheld phoneaccording to a modification of the first embodiment, FIG. 22Aillustrates a case wherein a three-dimensional image display device isused on a normal arrangement, and FIG. 22B illustrates a case whereinthe three-dimensional image display device is rotated by 90° prior touse;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating operation for switching displayimages based on arrangement direction of the three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to the present modification;

FIG. 24 is an optical model diagram in a case wherein athree-dimensional image display device according to a second embodimentof the present invention is disposed such that a first direction is thedirection of both eyes of the observer;

FIG. 25 is an optical model diagram in a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device according to the secondembodiment of the present invention is disposed such that a seconddirection is the direction of both eyes of the observer;

FIG. 26 is an optical model diagram in a case wherein athree-dimensional image display device according to a third embodimentof the present invention is disposed such that a first direction is thedirection of both eyes of the observer;

FIG. 27 is an optical model diagram in a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device according to the third embodimentof the present invention is disposed such that a second direction is thedirection of both eyes of the observer;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 29 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line C-C′ illustrated in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line D-D′ illustrated in FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to a modification of the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line E-E′ illustrated in FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section takenalong line F-F′ illustrated in FIG. 33; and

FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to a seventh embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Description will be made below regarding preferred embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to the appended drawings in detail.

First Embodiment

First, description will be made regarding a first embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating one displaypixel in a three-dimensional image display device according to the firstembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10 is an optical model diagramillustrating a cross-section taken along line A-A′ illustrated in FIG.9, FIG. 11 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-sectiontaken along line B-B′ illustrated in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12 is aperspective view illustrating a portable terminal device according tothe present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, with a three-dimensional image display device1 according to the present embodiment, a fly eye lens 3, a display panel2, and light source (not shown) are provided in that order from theobserver side. Examples of the display panel 2 include a transmissiveliquid crystal panel. The display panel 2 is configured of numerousdisplay pixels, and one display pixel is made up of pixels 401 through412 with three primary colors, i.e., RGB arrayed in a striped shape.That is to say, a red pixel A401 and a red pixel B402 are adjacent toeach other, and the red pixel A401 and a green pixel A405 are adjacentto each other. In the same way, the red pixel B402 and a green pixelB406 are adjacent to each other. Further, a blue pixel A409 is adjacentto the green pixel A405, and a blue pixel B410 is adjacent to the greenpixel B406. The other pixels have the same color array relation, asillustrated in FIG. 9.

Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 9, let us say that the directionwhere the same colored pixels are arrayed consecutively is a firstdirection 21, and the direction where mutually different colored pixelsare arrayed repeatedly is a second direction 22. The pitch of thecolored pixels in the second direction 22 is one third (⅓) of the pitchin the first direction 21. With the fly eye lens 3, curvature in thefirst direction is the same as curvature in the second direction, andthe lens pitch in the second direction 22 is one third (⅓) of the lenspitch in the first direction 21. In other words, four pixels in totalarrayed in 2×2 matrix along the first direction 21 and second direction22 (for example, red pixel A401, red pixel B402, green pixel A405, andgreen pixel B406) correspond to one lens element in the fly eye lens 3.Subsequently, one display unit is made up of 12 pixels 401 through 412.A shielding unit 6 is provided between respective pixels for preventingcolor mixture of images, and also hiding wiring for transmitting displaysignals to pixels.

At this time, in the event that the display panel is disposed such thatthe first direction 21 is parallel to the direction where a lineconnecting both eyes of the observer extends, two pixels arrayed in thefirst direction 21 serve as a left-eye pixel and a right-eye pixelrespectively based on the positional relation as to the correspondingfly eye lens. For example, the red pixel A401 and green pixel A405 serveas left-eye pixels, and the red pixel B402 and green pixel B406 serve asright-eye pixels.

In the same way, in the event that the display panel is disposed suchthat the second direction 22 is identical to the direction of both eyes,two pixels arrayed in the second direction 22 serve as a left-eye pixeland a right-eye pixel respectively based on the positional relation asto the corresponding fly eye lens. For example, the red pixel A401 andred pixel B402 serve as left-eye pixels, and the green pixel A405 andgreen pixel B406 serve as right-eye pixels. With the adjacent lenselement of the fly eye lens, in the same way, the blue pixel A409 andblue pixel B410 serve as left-eye pixels, and a red pixel C403 and redpixel D404 serve as right-eye pixels. With the adjacent but one lenselement of the fly eye lens, in the same way, a green pixel C407 andgreen pixel D408 serve as left-eye pixels, and a blue pixel C411 andblue pixel D412 serve as right-eye pixels.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the pixel pitch in the first direction 21 isP, and the distance between the fly eye lens 3 and the display panel 2(hereinafter, referred to as “lens-pixel distance”) is H. Let us saythat a observation surface is set on a position with an observationdistance OD from the lens surface, the magnifying projection width ofone pixel is e, and mean interpupillary distance (the spacing betweeneyes of the average observer) is Y. Incidentally, the meaninterpupillary distance of an adult male is 65 mm with standarddeviations of ±3.7 mm, and the mean interpupillary distance of an adultfemale is 62 mm with standard deviations of ±3.6 mm (Neil A. Dodgson,“Variation and extrema of human interpupillary distance,” Proc. SPIEvol. 5291). Therefore, it is suitable that the mean interpupillarydistance Y is appropriately set in the range of 62-65 mm, in the case ofdesigning the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment for average adult persons. For example, Y=63 mm. Whenthe direction of both eyes is identical to the first direction 21, thepixels for displaying a right-eye image and the pixels for displaying aleft-eye image are alternatively arrayed. For example, when the redpixel A401 displays a left-eye image, the red pixel B402 displays aright-eye image.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the pixel pitch in the second direction22 is (P/3), and accordingly, the magnifying projection width of onepixel is (e/3). With the present embodiment, the left eye 61 of theobserver is positioned on the magnifying projection area of the greenpixel A405, the right eye 62 of the observer is positioned on themagnifying projection area of the green pixel C407, and the magnifyingprojection area of the blue pixel A409 and magnifying projection area ofthe red pixel C403 are disposed between the magnifying projection areaof the green pixel A405 and the green pixel C407. In other words, themagnifying projection area of the green pixel A405 and magnifyingprojection area of the blue pixel A409, and magnifying projection areaof the red pixel C403 and the green pixel C407 are disposed between theleft eye 61 and right eye 62 in that order from the left eye 61 side tothe right eye 62 side. When the direction of both eyes is of theobserver identical to the second direction 22, the pixels for displayinga right-eye image and the pixels for displaying a left-eye image arealternatively arrayed. For example, when the green pixel A405, red pixelC403, and blue pixel C411 display a left-eye image, the red pixel A401,blue pixel A409, and green pixel C407 display a right-eye image. That isto say, during the mean interpupillary distance of the observers, theleft and right images are changed three times.

With the present embodiment, when j and k are natural numbers, in theobservation surface, the mean interpupillary distance Y of the observerand the magnifying projection width e in the first direction 21 satisfythe following Expression 43, satisfy the following Expression 44 forexample, and satisfy the following Expression 45 for example. Note thatthe following Expression 45 is in a case of k=1 in the followingExpression 44.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{3} \neq \frac{Y}{2 \times j}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 43} \right) \\{\frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{1}{2}} < \frac{e}{3} < \frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{1}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 44} \right) \\{\frac{Y}{3.5} < \frac{e}{3} < \frac{Y}{2.5}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 45} \right)\end{matrix}$

Note that in the event that the number of times for switching left andright images during the mean interpupillary distance of the observers isN, and also N is an odd number, the above Expressions 43 and 44 can berepresented as the following Expressions 46 and 47 respectively.Y/(N+1)<e/3<Y/(N−1)   (Expression 46)Y/(N+1/2)<e/3<Y/(N−1/2)   (Expression 47)

In FIG. 11, the number of times for switching left and right imagesduring the mean interpupillary distance is 3, but this number of timesbecomes 2 depending on the position of both eyes of the observer. Atthis time, in the event of employing an odd number 3 as the value of N,the above Expression 47 is identical to the above Expression 45.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the three-dimensional image displaydevice 1 according to the present embodiment can be mounted in aportable terminal device such as a handheld phone 9, for example.

Next, description will be made regarding operation of thethree-dimensional image display device 1 according to the presentembodiment having the aforementioned configuration, i.e., athree-dimensional image display method according to the presentembodiment. First, description will be made regarding a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device 1 is disposed such that thedirection of both eyes of the observer is identical to the firstdirection 21. FIG. 13 is an optical model diagram illustrating operationin a case wherein the three-dimensional image display device accordingto the present embodiment is disposed such that the first direction isidentical to the direction of both eyes. As illustrated in FIG. 9 andFIG. 13, first, a light source 10 is turned on. Upon the light source 10being turned on, the light emitted from the light source 10 is cast intothe display panel 2. On the other hand, a control device (not shown)drives the display panel 2, and controls each left-eye pixel and eachright-eye pixel to display a left-eye image and right-eye imagerespectively. At this time, the display panel 2 displays amutually-different-eye image on a pixel set (hereinafter, referred to as“first pixel set”) made up of the pixels 401, 405, 409, 403, 407, and411, and a pixel set (hereinafter, referred to as “second pixel set”)made up of the pixels 402, 406, 410, 404, 408, and 412. For example, thedisplay panel 2 displays a left-eye image on the first pixel set, and aright-eye image on the second pixel set.

Subsequently, the light cast into the left-eye pixels and right-eyepixels of the display panel 2 passes through these pixels, and proceedsto the fly eye lens 3. The light is refracted by the fly eye lens 3, thelight passed through the first pixel set of the display panel 2 proceedsto a region EL1, and the light passed through the second pixel setproceeds to a region ER1. At this time, upon the observer positioningthe left eye 61 to the region EL1, and the right eye 62 to the regionER1, a left-eye image is input to the left eye 61, and also a right-eyeimage is input to the right eye 62. In the event that there is parallaxbetween images to be viewed with the left eye and with the right eye,the observer can recognize an image displayed by the display panel 2 asa three-dimensional image.

Next, description will be made regarding a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device 1 is disposed such that thedirection of both eyes is identical to the second direction 22. FIG. 14is an optical model diagram illustrating operation in a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device according to the presentembodiment is disposed such that the second direction is identical tothe direction of both eyes. As illustrated in FIG. 9 and FIG. 14, thecontrol device (not shown) drives the display panel 2 to display amutually-different-eye image on a pixel set (hereinafter, referred to as“third pixel set”) made up of the pixels 401, 402, 409, 410, 407, and408, and a pixel set (hereinafter, referred to as “fourth pixel set”)made up of the pixels 405, 406, 403, 404, 411, and 412. For example, thedisplay panel 2 displays a right-eye image on the third pixel set, and aleft-eye image on the fourth pixel set.

Subsequently, the light source 10 turns on, the light emitted from thelight source 10 passes through each pixel on the display panel 2, andproceed to the fly eye lens 3. The light is refracted by the fly eyelens 3, and the light passed through the third pixel set and the lightpassed through the fourth pixel set, of the display panel 2, proceed inmutually different directions. More specifically, the light emitted fromthe blue pixel A409 and the light emitted from the red pixel C403 areprojected onto a region ER0 and region EL0 respectively by thecorresponding lens element 3 b. In the same way, the light emitted fromthe red pixel A401 and the light emitted from the green pixel A405 areprojected onto the region ER0 and region EL0 respectively by thecorresponding lens element 3 a, and the light emitted from the greenpixel C407 and the light emitted from the blue pixel C411 are projectedonto the region ER0 and region EL0 respectively by the correspondinglens element 3 c. Also, the light emitted from the red pixel A401 andthe light emitted from the green pixel A405 are passed through the lenselement 3 b adjacent to the corresponding lens element 3 a, and then areprojected onto the region ER2 and region EL1. In the same way, the lightemitted from the green pixel C407 and the light emitted from the bluepixel C411 are passed through the lens element 3 b adjacent to thecorresponding lens element 3 c, and then are projected onto the regionER1 and region EL2. Thus, the light emitted from the pixels fordisplaying a left-eye image is projected onto the region EL0, EL1, orEL2, and the light emitted from the pixels for displaying a right-eyeimage is projected onto the region ER0, ER1, or ER2.

At this time, upon the observer positioning the left eye 61 to theregions EL0, EL1, or EL2 where the light for the left eye is projected,and also positioning the right eye 62 to the regions ER0, ER1, or ER2where the light for the right eye is projected, a left-eye image isinput to the left eye 61, and also a right-eye image is input to theright eye 62. In the event that both left-eye image and right-eye imageinclude parallax, the observer can recognize an image displayed by thedisplay panel 2 as a three-dimensional image.

Next, description will be made regarding the reason for restrictingnumerical values. More specifically, description will be made regardingthe reason why the aforementioned Expressions 43 through 45 areestablished. Description will be made regarding probability to enablestereoscopic viewing (hereinafter, referred to “stereoscopic viewingprobability”) when the observer randomly positions his/her own both eyesto the observation surface of the three-dimensional image displaydevice.

First, a case wherein the direction of both eyes is set to be identicalto the first direction 21 will be described. FIGS. 15A and 15B arediagrams illustrating displacement of both ends, of displacementswherein when the direction of both eyes is set to be identical to afirst direction 21, the observer can recognize a three-dimensional imageby positioning the left eye 61 on a left-eye magnifying projectionregion, and the right eye 62 on a right-eye magnifying projectionregion, FIG. 15A illustrates a case of (Y/3)≦(e/3), i.e., 0≦Y≦e, andFIG. 15B illustrates a case of (Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3), i.e., e≦Y≦(2×e). InFIGS. 15A and 15B, on the observation surface, a region where a left-eyeimage is projected is represented with a heavy line, and a region wherea right-eye image is projected is represented with a light line. Also,the boundary point between a left-eye magnifying projection region and aright-eye magnifying projection region is assumed to be the origin O.FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/2), i.e., Y=(2/3)×e, and FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating anoptical model in a case of (e/3)=(Y/4), i.e., Y=(4/3)×e. As describedabove, in the event that the direction of both eyes is identical to thefirst direction 21, the magnifying projection region width of one pixelis e, so the magnifying projection region width of a pair of left andright pixels adjacent to each other is (2×e). Accordingly, let us saythat a region of this length (2×e) is a basic unit region, anddescription will be made regarding the position of a midpoint 63 betweenthe left eye 61 and the right eye 62 to obtain stereoscopic viewingwithin this basic unit region.

(1-1) Case of (Y/3)≦(e/3) (0≦Y≦e)

As illustrated in FIG. 15A, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 between the left eye 61 and the right eye 62 and the originO is (Y/2) or less, the observer can recognize a three-dimensionalimage. Accordingly, since the length of the displacement range of themidpoint 63 to allow the observer to recognize a three-dimensional imageis (2×E), when the observer randomly positions his/her own both eyes tothe observation surface of the three-dimensional image display device,stereoscopic viewing probability PR to enable stereoscopic viewing isobtained by the following Expression 48.PR=(2×E)/(2×e)=2×(Y/2)/(2×e)=Y/(2×e)   (Expression 48)(1-2) Case of (Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3) (e≦Y≦(2×e))

As illustrated in FIG. 15B, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the origin O is (e−(Y/2)) or less, the observer canrecognize a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, since the length ofthe displacement range of the midpoint 63 to allow the observer torecognize a three-dimensional image is (2×E), the stereoscopic viewingprobability PR is obtained by the following Expression 49.PR=2×E/(2×e)=2×(e−Y/2)/(2×e)=1−Y/(2×e)   (Expression 49)

As can be understood from Expressions 48 and 49, the stereoscopicviewing probability PR simply increases when the value of (e/3) iswithin the range of the aforementioned (1-1), reaches the maximal valuewhen the value of (e/3) is (Y/3), and simply decreases when the value of(e/3) is within the range of the aforementioned (1-2).

Next, the value of the stereoscopic viewing probability PR is calculatedregarding several values of (e/3). From Expression 48, in the casewherein (e/3) is infinite (∞), i.e., Y=0, PR becomes zero. Also, asillustrated in FIG. 16, in the case wherein (e/3)=(Y/2), i.e.,Y=(2/3)×e, PR becomes one third, i.e., around 0.33. Moreover, in thecase wherein (e/3)=(Y/3), i.e., Y=e, from Expression 48, PR becomes onehalf, i.e., 0.5. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 17, in the casewherein (e/3)=(Y/4), i.e., Y=(4/3)×e, from Expression 49, PR becomes onethird, i.e., around 0.33. Furthermore, in the case wherein (e/3)=(Y/6),i.e., Y=(2×e), from Expression 49, PR becomes zero.

Next, description will be made regarding stereoscopic viewingprobability in a case wherein the direction of both eyes is set to beidentical to the second direction 22. FIGS. 18A through 18F are diagramsillustrating displacement of both ends, of displacements wherein whenthe direction of both eyes is set to be identical to the seconddirection 22, the observer can recognize a three-dimensional image bypositioning the left eye 61 to a left-eye magnifying projection region,and the right eye 62 to a right-eye magnifying projection region, FIG.18A illustrates a case of Y≦(e/3), i.e., 0≦Y≦(e/3), FIG. 18B illustratesa case of (Y/2)≦(e/3)≦Y, i.e., (e/3)≦Y≦(2/3)×e, FIG. 18C illustrates acase of (Y/3)≦(e/3)≦(Y/2), i.e., (2/3)×e≦Y≦e, FIG. 18D illustrates acase of (Y/4)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3), i.e., e≦Y≦(4/3)×e, FIG. 18E illustrates acase of (Y/5)≦(e/3)≦(Y/4), i.e., (4/3)×e≦Y≦(5/3)×e, and FIG. 18Fillustrates a case of (Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/5), i.e., (5/3)×e≦Y≦(2×e). In FIGS.18A through 18F, of the observation surface, a region where a left-eyeimage is projected is represented with a heavy line, and a region wherea right-eye image is projected is represented with a light line. Also,the boundary point between a left-eye magnifying projection region and aright-eye magnifying projection region is assumed to be the origin O.

Also, FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an optical model in a case of(e/3)=(Y/2), i.e., Y=(2/3)×e, FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating anoptical model in a case of (e/3)=(Y/4), i.e., Y=(4/3)×e. As describedabove, in the event that the direction of both eyes is identical to thesecond direction 22, the magnifying projection region width of one pixelis (e/3), so the magnifying projection region width of a pair of leftand right pixel adjacent to each other is (2/3)×e. Accordingly, let ussay that a region of this length (2/3)×e is a basic unit region, anddescription will be made regarding the position of the midpoint 63between the left eye 61 and the right eye 62 to obtain stereoscopicviewing within this basic unit region.

(2-1) Case of Y≦(e/3) (0≦Y≦(e/3))

As illustrated in FIG. 18A, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 between the left eye 61 and the right eye 62 and the originO is (Y/2) or less, the observer can recognize a three-dimensionalimage. Accordingly, since the length of the displacement range of themidpoint 63 to allow the observer to recognize a three-dimensional imageis (2×E), when the observer randomly positions his/her own both eyes tothe observation surface of the three-dimensional image display device,the stereoscopic viewing probability PR to enable stereoscopic viewingis obtained by the following Expression 50. Note that at this time, thenumber of times N for switching left and right images during the meaninterpupillary distance is zero or 1.PR=(2×E)/(2×e/3)=2×(Y/2)/(2×e)=(3×Y)/(2×e)   (Expression 50)(2-2) Case of (Y/2)≦(e/3)≦Y ((e/3)≦Y≦(2/3)×e)

As illustrated in FIG. 18B, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the origin O is ((e/3)−(Y/2)) or less, the observer canrecognize a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, since the length ofthe displacement range of the midpoint 63 to allow the observer torecognize a three-dimensional image is (2×E), the stereoscopic viewingprobability PR is obtained by the following Expression 51.PR=(2×E)/((2/3)×e)=1−(3×Y)/(2×e)   (Expression 51)(2-3) Case of (Y/3)≦(e/3)≦(Y/2) ((2/3)×e≦Y≦e)

As illustrated in FIG. 18C, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the outside edge of the basic unit region is((Y/2)−(e/3)) or more, the observer can recognize a three-dimensionalimage. Accordingly, since the length of the displacement range of themidpoint 63 to allow the observer to recognize a three-dimensional imageis (2×E), the stereoscopic viewing probability PR is obtained by thefollowing Expression 52. Note that at this time, the number of times Nfor switching left and right images during the mean interpupillarydistance is 2 or 3.PR=(2×E)/((2/3)×e)=−1+(3×Y)/e   (Expression 52)(2-4) Case of (Y/4)≦(e/3)≦(Y/3) ((e≦Y≦(4/3)×e)

As illustrated in FIG. 18D, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the outside edge of the basic unit region is((2/3)×e−(Y/2)) or more, the observer can recognize a three-dimensionalimage. Accordingly, since the length of the displacement range of themidpoint 63 to allow the observer to recognize a three-dimensional imageis (2×E), the stereoscopic viewing probability PR is obtained by thefollowing Expression 53. Note that at this time, the number of times Nfor switching left and right images during the mean interpupillarydistance is 3 or 4.PR=(2×E)/((2/3)×e)=2−(3×Y)/(2×e)   (Expression 53)(2-5) Case of (Y/5)≦(e/3)≦(Y/4) ((4/3)×e≦Y≦(5/3)×e)

As illustrated in FIG. 18E, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the origin O is ((Y/2)−(2/3)×e) or less, the observercan recognize a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, since the lengthof the displacement range of the midpoint 63 to allow the observer torecognize a three-dimensional image is (2×E), the stereoscopic viewingprobability PR is obtained by the following Expression 54. Note that atthis time, the number of times N for switching left and right imagesduring the mean interpupillary distance is 4 or 5.PR=(2×E)/((2/3)×e)=−2+(3×Y)/(2×e)   (Expression 54)(2-6) Case of (Y/6)≦(e/3)≦(Y/5) ((5/3)×e≦Y≦(2×e))

As illustrated in FIG. 18F, in a case wherein the distance E between themidpoint 63 and the origin O is (e−(Y/2)) or less, the observer canrecognize a three-dimensional image. Accordingly, since the length ofthe displacement range of the midpoint 63 to allow the observer torecognize a three-dimensional image is (2×E), the stereoscopic viewingprobability PR is obtained by the following Expression 55. Note that atthis time, the number of times N for switching left and right imagesduring the mean interpupillary distance is 5 or 6.PR=(2×E)/((2/3)×e)=3−(3×Y)/(2×e)   (Expression 55)

Expressions 50 through 55 are mutually consecutive functions, thestereoscopic viewing probability PR simply increases when the value of(e/3) is within the range of the aforementioned (2-1), (2-2), and (2-5),simply decreases when the value of (e/3) is within the range of theaforementioned (2-2), (2-4), and (2-6), reaches the maximal value whenthe value of (e/3) is (Y/5), (Y/3), and Y, and reaches the minimal valuewhen the value of (e/3) is (Y/4) and (Y/2). The aforementionedExpressions 49 through 55 are summarized in Table 1.

TABLE 1 DIRECTION OF BOTH EYES FIRST DIRECTION 21 SECOND DIRECTION 22$\frac{e}{3}$ Y E PR E PR N $Y \leq \frac{e}{3}$$0 \leq Y \leq {\frac{1}{3} \times e}$ $\frac{1}{2} \times Y$$\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}$ $\frac{1}{2} \times Y$$\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}$ 0, 1$\frac{Y}{2} \leq \frac{e}{3} \leq Y$${\frac{1}{3} \times e} \leq Y \leq {\frac{2}{3} \times e}$${\frac{1}{3} \times e} - {\frac{1}{2} \times Y}$$1 - {\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$ 1, 2$\frac{Y}{3} \leq \frac{e}{3} \leq \frac{Y}{2}$${\frac{2}{3} \times e} \leq Y \leq e$${\frac{1}{2} \times Y} - {\frac{1}{3} \times e}$${- 1} + {\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$ 2, 3$\frac{Y}{4} \leq \frac{e}{3} \leq \frac{Y}{3}$$e \leq Y \leq {\frac{4}{3} \times e}$ $e - {\frac{1}{2} \times Y}$$1 - {\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$${\frac{2}{3} \times e} - {\frac{1}{2} \times Y}$$2 - {\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$ 3, 4$\frac{Y}{5} \leq \frac{e}{3} \leq \frac{Y}{4}$${\frac{4}{3} \times e} \leq Y \leq {\frac{5}{3} \times e}$${\frac{1}{2} \times Y} - {\frac{2}{3} \times e}$${- 2} + {\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$ 4, 5$\frac{Y}{6} \leq \frac{e}{3} \leq \frac{Y}{5}$${\frac{5}{3} \times e} \leq Y \leq {2 \times e}$$e - {\frac{1}{2} \times Y}$ $3 - {\frac{3}{2} \times \frac{Y}{e}}$ 5, 6

Next, the value of the stereoscopic viewing probability PR is calculatedregarding several values of (e/3). From Expression 50, in the casewherein (e/3) is infinite (∞), i.e., Y=0, PR becomes zero. Also, in thecase wherein (e/3)=Y, PR becomes one half, i.e., 0.5. Moreover, fromExpressions 51 and 52, as illustrated in FIG. 19, in the case wherein(e/3)=(Y/2), i.e., Y=(2/3)×e, PR becomes zero. Furthermore, in the casewherein (e/3)=(Y/3), i.e., Y=e, from Expressions 52 and 53, PR becomesone half, i.e., 0.5. Furthermore, from Expressions 53 and 54, asillustrated in FIG. 20, in the case wherein (e/3)=(Y/4), i.e.,Y=(4/3)×e, PR becomes zero. Furthermore, from Expressions 54 and 55, inthe case wherein (e/3)=(Y/5), i.e., Y=(5/3)×e, PR becomes one half,i.e., 0.5. Furthermore, from Expression 55, in the case wherein(e/3)=(Y/6), i.e., Y=(2×e), PR becomes zero.

FIG. 21 is a graph illustrating Expression 48 through Expression 55wherein the horizontal axis represents the values of (e/3) and Y, andthe vertical axis represents stereoscopic viewing probability PR. Notethat the vertical axis in FIG. 21 is in percent (%). Also, stereoscopicviewing probability when the direction of both eyes is the firstdirection (Expressions 48 and 49) is represented with a solid line, andstereoscopic viewing probability when the direction of both eyes is thesecond direction (Expressions 50 through 55) is represented with adashed line. As can be understood from FIG. 21, the cycle ofstereoscopic viewing probability when the three-dimensional imagedisplay device is disposed such that the first direction 21 is thedirection of both eyes of the observer is three times faster than thecycle of stereoscopic viewing probability when the three-dimensionalimage display device is disposed such that the second direction 22becomes the direction of both eyes. Note that even in a range other than(Y/6)<(e/3), similar periodicity is recognized between stereoscopicviewing probability and the value of (e/3).

In other words, as illustrated in FIG. 21, as long as the cycle (e/3) ofthe magnifying projection region of the pixels in the second direction22 satisfies the following Expression 56, even if the direction of botheyes is either the first direction 21 or the second direction 22, theobserver can recognize a three-dimensional image with probabilitygreater than zero. Note that the following Expression 56 is the sameexpression as Expression 43.e/3≠Y/(2×j)   (Expression 56)

Also, if the value of (e/3) satisfies the following Expression 57, thevalue of (e/3) is included in a region 31 illustrated in FIG. 21. Notethat the following Expression 57 is the same expression as Expression44. Consequently, even if the direction of both eyes is set to eitherthe first direction 21 or the second direction 22, high stereoscopicviewing probability can be obtained. That is to say, from Expression 48and Expression 49, the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the casewherein the direction of both eyes is set to the first direction 21becomes 42 through 50%. On the other hand, from Expression 52 andExpression 53, the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the casewherein the direction of both eyes is set to the second direction 22becomes 25 through 50%. With the present embodiment, the value of (e/3)satisfies the following Expression 58, for example.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{1}{2}} < \frac{e}{3} < \frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{1}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 57} \right) \\{\frac{Y}{3.5} < \frac{e}{3} < \frac{Y}{2.5}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 58} \right)\end{matrix}$

More preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 21, the value of (e/3) satisfiesthe following Expression 59. Note that with the following Expression 59,if k=1, (e/3)=(Y/3), i.e., Y becomes equal to e. This is equivalent toan intersecting point 32 illustrated in FIG. 21. In this case, even ifthe direction of both eyes is set to either the first direction 21 orthe second direction 22, the stereoscopic viewing probability PR becomes50%, whereby the observer can obtain the maximal visibility ofthree-dimensional images.

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{3} = \frac{Y}{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 59} \right)\end{matrix}$

Note that the smaller the value of (e/3) as to the mean interpupillarydistance Y, the more the number of times for switching left and rightimages during the mean interpupillary distance increases. Accordingly,even with the same stereoscopic viewing probability, the array cyclebetween a range for enabling stereoscopic viewing and a range fordisabling stereoscopic viewing becomes short, leading to the difficultyfor the observer to position his/her both eyes to a region for enablingstereoscopic viewing. Accordingly, satisfying Y/6<e/3 is preferable.Thus, the number of times N for switching left and right images duringthe mean interpupillary distance becomes 6 or less. Note that this rangeis equivalent to a range 35 (Y/6<e/3<Y/4), range 30 (Y/4<e/3<Y/2), andrange 33 (Y/2<e/3) in FIG. 21.

According to the present embodiment, since the cycle of the magnifyingprojection region is set so as to satisfy Expression 56, even if thedirection of both eyes is either the first direction 21 or the seconddirection 22, the observer can recognize three-dimensional images. Inparticular, if the cycle of the magnifying projection region is set soas to satisfy Expression 57, the visibility of three-dimensional imagesmore improves, if the cycle is set so as to satisfy Expression 59, thevisibility further improves.

Also, with the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment, since a fly eye lens is employed as an optical unit,blacked striping due to a barrier lens does not occur, and light loss issmall, as compared with the case of employing a parallax barrier.

Further, the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment can be applied to portable equipment such as handheldphones appropriately, and can display good three-dimensional images. Inthe case wherein the three-dimensional image display device according tothe present embodiment is applied to portable equipment, different fromthe case of applying this to a large-sized display device, since theobserver can adjust the positional relation between his/her both eyesand a display screen arbitrarily, the most appropriate visible regioncan be found immediately.

Note that as shown in Expressions 16 and 17, the distance H between theapex of the lens and one pixel is usually set the same as the focalpoint f of the lens, but a different value may be set. In this case,while the magnifying projection width e of one pixel exhibits a greatvalue due to blur, the value of the magnifying projection width e shouldbe handled as the width of a blurred image to apply the presentinvention. The image of a non-display region is also blurred by blurringthe image of one pixel, thereby preventing striping due to thenon-display region from occurring.

Also, with the present embodiment, while a transmissive liquid crystalpanel has been employed as the display panel, the display panel is notrestricted to this, a reflective liquid crystal display panel, or asemi-transmissive liquid crystal display panel of which each pixelincludes a transmissive region and a reflective region may be employed.Also, as for a method for driving a liquid crystal display panel, theactive matrix method such as the TFT (Thin Film Transistor) method, andTFD (Thin Film Diode) method, or the passive matrix method such as theSTN (Super Twisted Nematic liquid crystal) method may be employed.Further, as for a display panel, display panels other than liquidcrystal display panels, e.g., an organic electro-luminescence displaypanel, plasma display panel, CRT (Cathode-Ray Tube) display panel, LED(Light Emitting Diode) display panel, field emission display panel, orPALC (Plasma Address Liquid Crystal) may be employed.

Moreover, while the aforementioned description is in the case of usingdual viewpoints, the present invention does not restrict viewpoints tothis, and may be applied to a plurality of viewpoints three or moreviewpoints as well.

Furthermore, the foregoing description has dealt with the case where thedisplay pixels are made up of pixels with three primary colors of RGBarrayed in a stripe shape. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto, and may be similarly applied to the cases with any number ofcolors other than three, that is, two color or more than four.

Furthermore, the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment can be applied to not only handheld phones, but alsoportable terminal devices such as portable terminals, PDAs, gamedevices, digital cameras, and digital video cameras.

Modification of First Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a modification of the firstembodiment. FIGS. 22A and 22B are perspective views illustrating ahandheld phone according to a modification of the first embodiment,wherein FIG. 22A illustrates a case of using a three-dimensional imagedisplay device on a normal arrangement, and FIG. 22B illustrates a caseof rotating the three-dimensional image display device by 90° prior touse. As illustrated in FIGS. 22A and 22B, with the handheld phone, athree-dimensional image display device 1 is mounted so as to be rotated.The three-dimensional image display device 1 can be disposed on a normalposition (hereinafter, referred to as “vertical array”) such asillustrated in FIG. 22A, and also can be disposed on a position rotatedby 90° from the normal position (hereinafter, referred to as “horizontalarray”) such as illustrated in FIG. 22B. For example, thethree-dimensional image display device 1 is connected to a main body ofa handheld phone 9 by means of a rotational connecting member (notillustrated) which can be rotated while maintaining electricalconnection. In addition, the handheld phone according to the presentmodification includes detecting unit (not illustrated) for detecting thearray direction of the three-dimensional image display device 1, andswitches display images based on the array direction such that theobserver can visually recognize three-dimensional images.

Next, description will be made regarding operation of the handheld phoneaccording to the present modification. FIG. 23 is a flowchartillustrating operation for switching display images based on arraydirection of the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent modification. With the present modification, let us say that thedirection of both eyes is the second direction 22 in the case ofdisposing the three-dimensional image display device vertically, and thefirst direction 21 in the case of disposing the three-dimensional imagedisplay device horizontally for the sake of explanation.

In the initial state, the user (observer) turns the power of thehandheld phone off. Subsequently, as illustrated in Step S1 of FIG. 23,upon the power of the handheld phone turning on, the handheld phonedetects the array direction of the three-dimensional image displaydevice 1.

Subsequently, upon detection of vertical array, as illustrated in StepS2, the handheld phone displays left and right parallax images on thepixels arrayed in the second direction for each display unit of thethree-dimensional image display device. Thus, the user can recognizethree-dimensional images on the vertical array, following which the flowreturns to Step S1.

On the other hand, in the event that the three-dimensional image displaydevice is rotated and set to horizontal array, the handheld phonedetects that the three-dimensional image display device 1 is set tohorizontal array in Step S1. In this case, the flow proceeds to Step S3,the three-dimensional image display device 1 displays left and rightparallax images on the pixels arrayed in the first direction for eachdisplay unit. Thus, the user can recognize three-dimensional images onthe horizontal array, following which the flow returns to Step S1.

As described above, while the three-dimensional image display devicedisplays parallax images on the pixels arrayed in the second directionat the time of vertical array, the same information should be displayedon the pixels arrayed in the first direction. Thus, even in the case ofchanging the observation angle in the vertical direction, a wide viewangle can be obtained. Also, different information may be displayed onthe pixels arrayed in the first direction. Thus, different informationcan be obtained by simply changing the observation angle for observingthe three-dimensional image display device to the vertical direction.This is the same at the time of horizontal array.

As described above, with the present modification, the direction fordisplaying images can be switched by rotating the three-dimensionalimage display device alone without rotating the handheld phone itself.Also, the direction for displaying images can be switched by thedetecting unit to detect the direction of the three-dimensional imagedisplay device in collaboration with the direction of thethree-dimensional image display device.

Second Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a second embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 24 is an optical model diagram in a case whereina three-dimensional image display device according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is disposed such that theaforementioned first direction becomes the direction of both eyes of anobserver. FIG. 25 is an optical model diagram in a case wherein thethree-dimensional image display device according to the secondembodiment of the present invention is disposed such that theaforementioned second direction is the direction of both eyes of theobserver. The present embodiment is in a case wherein magnifying powerof pixels is increased compared with that in the first embodiment, thevalue of (e/3) is included in the range 33 in FIG. 21. In other words,the value of (e/3) satisfies the following Expression 60. In this case,in the event that the three-dimensional image display device is disposedsuch that the second direction 22 becomes the direction of both eyes,the number of times N for switching left and right images during themean interpupillary distance becomes zero or 1 depending on the positionof both eyes, in the event that both eyes are positioned so as torecognize three-dimensional images, N becomes 1.(Y/2)<(e/3)   (Expression 60)

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 21, if the value of (e/3) is set to beidentical to the intersecting point 34 between Expression 48 andExpression 51, the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the casewherein the direction of both eyes is set to the first direction 21 isidentical to the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the case whereinthe direction of both eyes is set to the second direction 22, wherebythe same visibility on both vertical array and horizontal array can beobtained. From Expression 48 and Expression 51, the value of (e/3) atthe intersecting point 34 becomes the value shown in the followingExpression 61, and the stereoscopic viewing probability PR at that timebecomes 25% in either the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thefirst direction 21 or the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thesecond direction 22. Accordingly, the value of (e/3) is preferably setto the value shown in the following Expression 61. In general, note thatthe following Expression 61 can be represented such as shown in thefollowing Expression 62. The following Expression 61 is the case of k=1in the following Expression 62. Other than the aforementionedconfiguration, operation and advantages, the present embodiment is thesame as the first embodiment.(e/3)=(Y/1.5)   (Expression 61)

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{3} = \frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{3}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 62} \right)\end{matrix}$

Third Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a third embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 26 is an optical model diagram in a case whereina three-dimensional image display device according to a third embodimentof the present invention is disposed such that the aforementioned firstdirection becomes the direction of both eyes of an observer, FIG. 27 isan optical model diagram in a case wherein the three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention is disposed such that the aforementioned second direction isthe direction of both eyes of the observer. The present embodiment is ina case wherein magnifying power of pixels is decreased compared withthat in the first embodiment, the pixel magnifying projection width e/3in the second direction 22 satisfies the following Expression 63 as tothe mean interpupillary distance. This is equivalent to the range 35illustrated in FIG. 21. In this case, in the event that thethree-dimensional image display device is disposed such that the seconddirection 22 becomes the direction of both eyes, the number of times Nfor switching left and right images during the mean interpupillarydistance of the observers becomes 4 through 6 depending on the positionof both eyes, in the event that both eyes are positioned so as torecognize three-dimensional images, N becomes 5.(Y/6)<(e/3)<(Y/4)   (Expression 63)

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 21, if the value of (e/3) is set to beidentical to an intersecting point 36 between Expression 49 andExpression 54, the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the casewherein the direction of both eyes is set to the first direction 21 isidentical to the stereoscopic viewing probability PR in the case whereinthe direction of both eyes is set to the second direction 22, wherebythe same visibility on both vertical array and horizontal array can beobtained. From Expression 50 and Expression 55, the value of (e/3) atthe intersecting point 36 becomes the value shown in the followingExpression 64, and the stereoscopic viewing probability PR at that timebecomes 25% in either the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thefirst direction 21 or the case wherein the direction of both eyes is thesecond direction 22. Accordingly, the value of (e/3) is preferably setto the value shown in the following Expression 64. In general, note thatthe following Expression 64 can be represented such as shown in thefollowing Expression 65. The following Expression 64 is the case of k=1in the following Expression 65. Other than the aforementionedconfiguration, operation and advantages, the present embodiment is thesame as the first embodiment.(e/3)=(Y/4.5)   (Expression 64)

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{e}{3} = \frac{Y}{{3 \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{3}{2}}} & \left( {{Expression}\mspace{14mu} 65} \right)\end{matrix}$

Fourth Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 28 is a perspective view illustrating athree-dimensional image display device according to a fourth embodimentof the present invention, FIG. 29 is an optical model diagramillustrating a cross-section taken along line C-C′ illustrated in FIG.28, and FIG. 30 is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-sectiontaken along line D-D′ illustrated in FIG. 28. As illustrated in FIG. 28,with the fourth embodiment, the pixels on the display panel 2 arearrayed in square formation wherein the pitch in the first direction 21and the pitch in the second direction 22 are equal to each other. Thepixels for left and right dual viewpoint in the first direction 21 andthe pixels for left and right dual viewpoint in the second direction 22are disposed in a (2×2) matrix for each display unit, thereby making upa pixel matrix. The shape of pixels is a square, and accordingly, theshape of the pixel matrix is also a square. Further, a plurality ofpixel matrixes are arrayed in a matrix on the display panel 2.

Also, with the fly eye lens 3, one lens element thereof is disposed soas to correspond to one pixel matrix made up of (2×2) pixels. In otherwords, lens elements are arrayed in a matrix. In an illustrated example,a pixel matrix made up of the red pixel A401, red pixel B402, red pixelC403, and red pixel D404 corresponds to one lens element. In the sameway, a pixel matrix made up of the green pixel A405, green pixel B406,green pixel C407, and green pixel D408 corresponds to one lens element,a pixel matrix made up of the blue pixel A409, blue pixel B410, bluepixel C411, and blue pixel D412 corresponds to one lens element, and apixel matrix made up of the cyan pixel A413, cyan pixel B414, cyan pixelC415, and cyan pixel D416 corresponds to one lens element. Since theshape of the pixels is a square, the lens pitch in the first directionis identical to the lens pitch in the second direction. Four pixelsbelonging to one pixel matrix are the same colored pixels, the color ofpixels mutually differ between adjacent pixel matrixes.

Four pixel matrixes arrayed in a (2×2) matrix, i.e., 16 pixels arrayedin a (4×4) matrix, make up one display unit. Accordingly, four-coloredpixels are provided for each display unit, in addition to three primarycolors, red, blue, and green, cyan (this has different spectrum fromgreen) pixels are provided.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 29 and FIG. 30, the observation distanceOD, pixel magnifying projection width e in the observation distance OD,distance H between the apex of the lens and the pixel, and pixel pitch Pin the first direction are configured so as to satisfy Expressions 10through 13. Further, the pixel pitch P in the second direction 22 isidentical to the pixel pitch in the first direction. Other than theaforementioned configuration, operation and advantages, the presentembodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

With the present embodiment, since the pixel pitch in the firstdirection 21 is identical to the pixel pitch in the second direction,the other parameters can be set to the same value as well. Accordingly,the magnifying projection width of one pixel in the same observationsurface can be set to the same value in the first and second directions.Consequently, even in the event of disposing the three-dimensional imagedisplay device in either direction, visibility of three-dimensionalimages can be improved. Also, each pixel matrix is made up of aplurality of pixels having the same color. Thus, the same coloredconsecutive region on the display panel 2 can be expanded, therebyfacilitating manufacture of display panels. Other than theaforementioned advantages, the present embodiment is the same as thefirst embodiment.

While the foregoing description has dealt with the configuration withpixels in four colors, or red, blue, green, and cyan, the presentinvention is not limited thereto, and may be similarly applied to thecases with any four colors other than these. Furthermore, any number ofcolors other than four is also applicable as well.

Modification of Fourth Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a modification of the presentfourth embodiment. While a pixel matrix corresponding to one lenselement is configured of pixels having the same color in the fourthembodiment, a pixel matrix is configured of pixels having a differentcolor in the present modification. FIG. 31 is a perspective viewillustrating a three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent modification. As illustrated in FIG. 31, with the presentmodification, for example, one pixel matrix is made up of the red pixelA401, green pixel B406, blue pixel C411, and cyan pixel D416, whichcorresponds to one lens element. In the same way, one pixel matrix madeup of the green pixel A405, blue pixel B410, cyan pixel C415, and redpixel D404, which corresponds to one lens element, one pixel matrix madeup of the blue pixel A409, cyan pixel B414, red pixel C403, and greenpixel D408, which corresponds to one lens element, and one pixel matrixmade up of the cyan pixel A413, red pixel B402, green pixel C407, andblue pixel D412, which corresponds to one lens element. That is to say,one viewpoint is configured of different colors, and accordingly, thiscolor array is a mosaic color array.

Accordingly, the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent modification is suited for displaying images such as landscape.On the other hand, as described above, in the case of configuring onepixel matrix with pixels having the same color, the same colorconsecutive region can be expanded, there is an advantage in thatmanufacturing of display panels can be facilitated.

With the present embodiment and a modification thereof, two kinds ofgreen pixels of which color spectrums are mutually different areemployed to handle four-color pixels, thereby improving colorrepeatability of the three-dimensional image display device. Also,normal green and white pixels may be employed instead of two kinds ofgreen pixels having a different color spectrum. In this case, there isan advantage wherein brightness of the three-dimensional image displaydevice can be improved.

Fifth Embodiment

Description has been made regarding a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating athree-dimensional image display device according to the fifthembodiment. The difference between the fifth embodiment and the fourthembodiment is in that the lens elements making up a fly eye lens are ina Delta array, and also pixel matrixes making up one display unit are ina delta array. The (2×2) pixels making up each pixel matrix are arrayedin a square in the same way as with the fourth embodiment, and one pixelmatrix is made up of pixels having the same color. More specifically,one pixel matrix is made up of the red pixel A401, red pixel B402, redpixel C403, and red pixel D404, which corresponds to one lens element.In the same way, one pixel matrix made up of the green pixel A405, greenpixel B406, green pixel C407, and green pixel D408, which corresponds toone lens element, and one pixel matrix made up of the blue pixel A409,blue pixel B410, blue pixel C411, and blue pixel D412, which correspondsto one lens element. Subsequently, the aforementioned pixels 401 through412 make up one display unit.

With the present embodiment, the lens elements and pixel matrixes are inDelta array, and a display unit can be configured of three primarycolors, red, green, and blue. Thus, visibility of three-dimensionalimages in the first and second directions can be improved while keepingconformity as to conventional color display. Also, landscape or the likecan be suitably displayed due to a delta array.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a sixth embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 33 is a perspective view illustrating athree-dimensional image display device according to the sixthembodiment, FIG. 34 is an optical model diagram illustrating across-section taken along line E-E′ illustrated in FIG. 33, and FIG. 35is an optical model diagram illustrating a cross-section taken alongline F-F′ illustrated in FIG. 33. While the first embodiment employs afly eye lens as the optical unit, the present embodiment employs twolenticular lenses as the optical unit. More specifically, as illustratedin FIG. 33, a lenticular lens 51, lenticular lens 52, display panel 2,and light source (not illustrated) are provided in the three-dimensionalimage display device 1 in that order from the observer side.

A plurality of cylindrical lenses making up the lenticular lens 51 ofwhich longitudinal direction is identical to the second direction 22 arearrayed along the first direction 21. Also, a plurality of cylindricallenses making up the lenticular lens 52 of which longitudinal directionis identical to the first direction 21 are arrayed along the seconddirection 22. Accordingly, the lenticular lens 51 and lenticular lens 52are overlapped such that the longitudinal directions of the cylindricallenses are orthogonal to each other. Further, the lenticular lens 51 isdisposed of which the lens surface faces the observer (not illustrated),and the lenticular lens 52 is disposed of which the lens surface facesthe display panel 2. In other words, the flat surface (the oppositesurface of the lens surface) of a lens 51 faces a lens 52, and the lenssurface of the lens 52 faces the display panel 2. Furthermore, the lenspitch of the lenticular lens 51 is three times wider than the lens pitchof the lenticular lens 52.

As illustrated in FIG. 34, with the observation distance OD, pixelmagnifying projection width e in the observation distance OD, distance Hbetween the apex of the lens 51 and the pixel, and pixel pitch P in thefirst direction 21, the following Expressions 66 through 68 areestablished from Expressions 1 and 2.n×sin α=sin β  (Expression 66)OD×tan β=e   (Expression 67)H×tan α=P   (Expression 68)

As illustrated in FIG. 35, with the observation distance OD, pixelmagnifying projection width e in the observation distance OD, distanceH2 between the apex of the lens 52 and the pixel, and pixel pitch (P/3)in the second direction 22, the following Expressions 69 through 71 areestablished.n×sin α2=sin β2   (Expression 69)(OD+H−H 2)×tan β2=e   (Expression 70)H 2×tan α2=P/3   (Expression 71)

The positions of the lenticular lenses 51 and 52 can be obtained bycalculating the distance H between the lens 51 and the pixel fromExpression 66 through 68, and calculating the distance H2 between thelens 52 and the pixel from Expressions 69 through 71.

Since the three-dimensional image display device according to thepresent embodiment can independently set the distances between theapexes of the two lenticular lenses and the pixels, a pixel magnifyingprojection width can be set independently in the first direction and inthe second direction. Thus, the pixel magnifying projection width in thesame observation surface can be set to the same value in the firstdirection and in the second direction. Consequently, even if thedirection of both eyes is set to be identical to either the firstdirection 21 or the second direction 22, visibility of three-dimensionalimages can be improved. Also, in the case wherein three-color pixels arerepeatedly arrayed along the second direction, the resolution of imagesin the first direction can be identical to that in the second directionmutually by setting the lens pitch of the lenticular lens 51 three timeswider than the lens pitch of the lenticular lens 52. Other than theaforementioned configuration, operation and advantages, the presentembodiment is the same as the first embodiment.

Note that the lens surface of the lenticular lens 52 may be disposed onthe observer side, but as with the present embodiment, if the flatsurface of the lens 51 and the flat surface of the lens 52 are disposedso as to face each other, the distance H2 between the lens 52 and thepixel can be set to the value of one third of the distance H between theapex of the lens 51 and the pixel, thereby enabling smaller distance H2to be handled, and accordingly, the present invention can be applied toa highly fine panel having a small pixel pitch P. Accordingly, with thepresent embodiment, the lens 51 and lens 52 are disposed such that theflat surface of the lens 51 and that of the lens 52 face each other.

Also, disposing an optical film (not shown) such as a polarization platebetween the lenticular lens 51 and lenticular lens 52 enables a smallerdistance H2 to be handled, so this arrangement is effective regardingthe fineness of the three-dimensional image display device. Further, twoparallax barriers on which slits are formed may be employed instead ofthe two lenticular lenses 51 and 52. At this time, the longitudinaldirections of the slits on the two-parallax barriers are orthogonal toeach other. Subsequently, one of the parallax barriers wherein thelongitudinal direction of the slits is the second direction, and thearray direction of the slits is the first direction, is preferablydisposed on a position far away from the display panel compared to theother parallax barrier, and the array pitch of the slits on theaforementioned one of the parallax barriers is preferably set threetimes wider than that of the other parallax barrier.

Moreover, while the foregoing description has dealt with theconfiguration with pixels in three colors, or red, blue, and green, thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and may be similarly appliedto the cases with any number of colors other than three. Given thenumber of colors Z, it is preferable that the aforementioned one of thelenticular lenses be given a lens pitch Z times that of the otherlenticular lens. The same holds for the parallax barriers. That is, itis preferable that the aforementioned one of the parallax barriers begiven an array pitch of the slits Z times that of the other parallaxbarrier.

Seventh Embodiment

Next, description will be made regarding a seventh embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating athree-dimensional image display device according to the seventhembodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 36, the difference between thepresent embodiment and the first embodiment is in that a parallaxbarrier 7 is provided instead of the fly eye lens 3 on the observer'sside of the display panel 2. Further, pinholes 8 are formed in a matrixon the parallax barrier 7. The present embodiment is the same as thefirst embodiment except for the aforementioned configuration.

With the present embodiment, a barrier is provided instead of a lens,thereby preventing striping due to the surface reflection of a lens fromoccurrence, and further preventing display quality due to this stripingfrom deterioration. The present embodiment is the same as the firstembodiment except for the aforementioned advantages.

Note that the parallax barrier 7 may be provided on the rear surfaceside of the display panel 2. In this case, this barrier is notconspicuous when the observer observes images, thereby improvingvisibility. Alternatively, with the sixth embodiment, one of the twolenticular lenses may be substituted with a parallax barrier on whichslits are formed. Further, the pinholes or the slits formed on theparallax barrier have a limited size, and accordingly, a pixelmagnifying projection image is blurred and expanded into a large width.In this case, the present invention can be applied to such an image byapplying the value of the pixel magnifying projection width e to thewidth of this blurred image. While expanding the slit width increasescross-talk between left and right images, high-luminance display can berealized. Furthermore, the seventh embodiment is an example wherein aparallax barrier is employed instead of a fly eye lens employed in thefirst embodiment, in the same way, with the second through fifthembodiments, a parallax barrier on which pinhole slits are formed may beemployed instead of a fly eye lens as well.

1. A three-dimensional image display device comprising: a display panelon which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix fashion, whichconstitute a plurality of display units arranged in matrix fashion, ineach of which display units pixels for displaying a right-eye image andpixels for displaying a left-eye image are arrayed in a first directionin a first case, and which constitute a plurality of display unitsarranged in matrix fashion in each of which display units pixels fordisplaying a right-eye image and pixels for displaying a left-eye imageare arrayed in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction ina second case; and an optical unit for distributing light emitted fromthe pixels arrayed in said first direction in said first case intomutually different directions along said first direction, and alsodistributing light emitted from the pixels arrayed in said seconddirection in said second case into mutually different directions alongsaid second direction, wherein said pixels for displaying a right-eyeimage and said pixels for displaying a left-eye image are colored in Znumber of colors, Z representing a natural number, said pixels havingthe same color being arrayed consecutively along said first direction,and said pixels having different colors being arranged consecutivelyalong said second direction; and wherein the following expression holds,when Y represents mean interpupillary distance, e represents themagnifying projection width of one pixel in said first direction, and jis a natural number, $\frac{e}{Z} \neq \frac{Y}{2 \times j}$ the pitchof said pixels along said second direction being smaller than the pitchof said pixels along said first direction.
 2. A three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein said mean interpupillarydistance Y and said magnifying projection width e satisfy the followingexpression when k is a natural number$\frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{1}{2}} < \frac{e}{Z} < {\frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{1}{2}}.}$3. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim 2,wherein said mean interpupillary distance Y and said magnifyingprojection width e satisfy the following expression$\frac{e}{Z} = {\frac{Y}{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)}.}$4. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1,wherein said mean interpupillary distance Y and said magnifyingprojection width e satisfy the following expression when k is a naturalnumber$\frac{e}{Z} = {\frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} - \frac{Z}{2}}.}$5. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1,wherein said mean interpupillary distance Y and said magnifyingprojection width e satisfy the following expression when k is a naturalnumber$\frac{e}{Z} = {\frac{Y}{{Z \times \left( {{2 \times k} - 1} \right)} + \frac{Z}{2}}.}$6. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1 whereinsaid mean interpupillary distance Y and said magnifying projection widthe satisfy the following expressionY/6<e/3.
 7. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim1, wherein said number of colors Z is three.
 8. A three-dimensionalimage display device according to claim 1, wherein said meaninterpupillary distance Y is in the range of 62-65 mm.
 9. Athree-dimensional image display device according to claim 1, whereinsaid optical unit is a fly eye lens.
 10. A three-dimensional imagedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein said optical unit is aparallax barrier on which a plurality of pinhole slits are formed inmatrix fashion.
 11. A three-dimensional image display device accordingto claim 1, said optical unit comprising: a first parallax barrier onwhich a plurality of slits of which the longitudinal direction extendsin said first direction are formed; and a second parallax barrier, whereis overlapped said first parallax barrier, on which a plurality of slitsof which the longitudinal direction extends in said second direction areformed.
 12. A three-dimensional image display device according to claim1, wherein in the event that said first direction is disposed so as tocoordinate with the direction from the right eye of an observer to theleft eye, a pair of pixels on which a right-eye image and left-eye imageare respectively displayed arrayed in said first direction within eachdisplay unit, also a plurality of pixels on which mutually differentimages are displayed arrayed in said second direction within eachdisplay unit, and in the event that said second direction is disposed soas to coordinate with the direction from the right eye of an observer tothe left eye, a pair of pixels on which a right-eye image and left-eyeimage are respectively displayed arrayed in said second direction withineach display unit, also a plurality of pixels on which mutuallydifferent images are displayed arrayed in said first direction withineach display unit.
 13. A portable terminal device comprising: a mainbody; and a three-dimensional image display device according to claim 1connected to said main body.
 14. A portable terminal device according toclaim 13, wherein said three-dimensional image display device isconnected to said main body so as to rotate.
 15. A portable terminaldevice according to claim 13, further comprising detecting unit fordetecting the displacement direction of said three-dimensional imagedisplay device as to said main body, wherein said three-dimensionalimage display device switches the array direction of the pixels fordisplaying a right-eye image and the pixels for displaying a left-eyeimage either in said first direction or in said second direction basedon the detection results of said detecting unit.
 16. A portable terminaldevice according to claim 13, wherein said portable terminal device is ahandheld phone, portable terminal, PDA, game device, digital camera, ordigital video camera.
 17. A three-dimensional image display devicecomprising: a display panel on which a plurality of display unitsinclude pixels arranged in matrix fashion, said pixels displayingright-eye images and left-eye images alternately arrayed in a firstdirection on said display panel, and said pixels being arrayed in aplurality of rows in a second direction on said display panel orthogonalto said first direction, when said display panel is disposed such thatsaid first direction is parallel to a direction where a line connectingboth eyes of an observer of said display panel extends; and said pixelsdisplaying right-eye images and left-eye images alternately arrayed insaid second direction and said pixels being arrayed in a plurality ofrows in said first direction when said display panel is disposed suchthat said second direction is parallel to a direction where a lineconnecting both eyes of an observer of said display panel extends; andan optical unit for distributing light emitted from the pixels arrayedin said first direction into mutually different directions along saidfirst direction when said display panel is disposed such that said firstdirection is parallel to a direction where a line connecting both eyesof an observer of said display panel extends, and also distributinglight emitted from the pixels arrayed in said second direction intomutually different directions along said second direction when saiddisplay panel is disposed such that said second direction is parallel toa direction where a line connecting both eyes of an observer of saiddisplay panel extends, wherein said pixels for displaying said right-eyeimages and said pixels for displaying said left-eye images are coloredin Z number of colors, Z representing a natural number, said pixelshaving the same color being arrayed consecutively along said firstdirection, and said pixels having different colors being arrangedconsecutively along said second direction; and wherein the followingexpression holds, when Y represents mean interpupillary distance, erepresents the magnifying projection width of one pixel in said firstdirection, and j is a natural number,$\frac{e}{Z} \neq \frac{Y}{2 \times j}$ the pitch of said pixels alongsaid second direction being smaller than the pitch of said pixels alongsaid first direction.